Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer, is a large constellation on the celestial equator that the ecliptic crosses although it is not one of the traditional zodiac signs.
At a glance
| stars in the figure | 17 |
|---|---|
| nearest star of the figure | Rasalhague, 48.6 light-years (14.9 pc) |
| farthest star of the figure | Chi Ophiuchi, 525 light-years (161 pc) |
| depth | the farthest is 11 × farther than the nearest |
| zodiac | ⛎ the ecliptic runs through it |
Read off the piece’s own catalogue, the same values it draws with.
About Ophiuchus
Ophiuchus is an ancient Greek figure, usually identified with Asclepius, the healer, holding a great serpent: the serpent is the separate constellation Serpens, split into head and tail on either side of him. Rasalhague marks his head. The Sun passes through Ophiuchus on its yearly path, yet astrology never counted it among the signs.
Ophiuchus faces the inner Galaxy and is rich in dust and clusters. The Rho Ophiuchi cloud is a nearby nursery of young stars, and the Pipe Nebula a dark lane of dust. Kepler’s supernova, the last exploding star seen by eye in the Milky Way, appeared here, and Barnard’s Star, the fastest-moving star across the sky, lies within it. It is seen on northern summer evenings.
What you see in the piece
Flown out to, the serpent bearer scatters, from Rasalhague, a near neighbour, to Chi Ophiuchi far behind, and the dust clouds of the figure lie deeper than most of its stars.
Questions
Is Ophiuchus a zodiac constellation?
The ecliptic runs through Ophiuchus, so the Sun, Moon and planets pass through it, but it is not one of the traditional signs of the zodiac.
How far away are the stars of Ophiuchus?
They range from Rasalhague, 48.6 light-years (14.9 pc), to Chi Ophiuchi, 525 light-years (161 pc): the farthest is 11 × farther than the nearest.